2010 Round 1 - AAGBI/Anaesthesia Departmental Project Grant

Professor Helen Galley

Senior Lecturer in Anaesthesia & Intensive Care, School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Aberdeen

Investigating the mechanisms of neuropathic pain induced by paclitaxel: role of oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial damage and protection by targeted antioxidants

Summary: Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathic pain is an unpleasant side effect of chemotherapeutic agents such as paclitaxel and limits the doses which can be used. Oxidative damage to mitochondria may contribute to the damage to neurons during paclitaxel therapy. We are using paclitaxel treated neuronal cells as an in vitro model of neuropathic pain. The extent of mitochondrial damage and the potential protective effect of mitochondria targeted antioxidants is being assessed.